Right from the onset, Governor Abdullahi A Sule of Nasarawa state has a clear idea of how to handle the challenges of rural development in the state. This, he believes, includes providing the necessary infrastructures for the rural populace including ensuring that his administration aggressively addresses the concerns about deplorable state of rural roads.
There is no contesting the fact that an effective transport system which makes room for easy movement of persons and goods from one place to another plays a central role in economic development.
One fundamental way of boosting transportation and ultimately, aid the movement of goods and persons from hinterland to the markets is through the availability of a good road network that connects different communities.
Nasarawa is not just a rural state; it is an agrarian state with most of its natives deeply engaged in farming as the mainstay of their economy and source of livelihood. To ease the movement of their farm produce from the farms to the market, they need good roads. The administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule understands this perfectly well and has been doing all it takes to address it.
During his inaugural speech on May 29 2019, Governor Sule pledged to prioritise provision of basic infrastructures and almost four years after, the governor is rewriting the history of Nasarawa state through remarkable achievements in all facets particularly in the area of rural roads construction.
To walk his talk as far as commitment to rural development is concerned, Governor Sule established the Nasarawa State Bureau for Rural Development and saddled the agency with the responsibility of rural road projects among other plausible engagements.
Like the Chinese rightly assert, “development follows road“ Road construction plays fundamental role in adding value to the livelihoods of rural populace by boosting the socio- economic activities of rural communities which were hitherto sidelined.
Not only did the Bureau for Rural Development take over the maintenance of rural feeder roads, it also handles rural water supply and electrification following which most rural communities in the state that hitherto lacked access roads now have it.
As at the last count, the Bureau concluded plans to upgrade no less than 1000km of rural roads across the state. Already, work is ongoing on the 17km Andaha-Rinze road in Akwanga LG; 27km Kofar Gwari-Bakin Ayeni rural road in Kokona LG, and 15km Keana-Abuni road in Awe and Keana LGs respectively.
There is also the 10km Shabu-Doka-Anigba-Akakyo road; 21km Agwade-Shupe-Atabula-Obi road; 27.9km Kanje-Abuni road; 6km Kagbu-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana road; 5km Masaka-Luvu road;16km Mama-Farin Ruwa road;14km Nasarawa-Ara road; 12km Ribi-Jangwa road; 27km Assakio-Obi road; 54km Angoro Junction/Bassa road;1km Gudi-Anguwan Dorawa road, and 19km Baure Grazing Reserve.
Others rural roads constructed and or ongoing are 2.2km Akurba Power Substation road;3km Sabon Garin Salawo/Tudun Wada road in Keffi; 3km Kaibo Fulani-Kaibo Mada road; 16.9km Kofan Gwari-Bakin Ayeni-Amba road;13km Rinze-Ngare-Ancho- Babba-Andaha road; and 5km Alushi/Wakama.
The road projects in most of the rural communities in the state have contributed to easing transportation of farm produce to available markets.
As should be expected, some rural dwellers have continued to shower encomiums on the governor for prioritizing rural development.
Indeed, as the campaigns drums roll out, in Nasarawa State, it will be a moment for the Engineer Abdullahi Sule, who is seeking a deserved second term in office, to list his plausible people oriented programmes, policies and projects which have continued to make life better for the residents of the state.
As he sets out for his reelection campaign across various communities in the “Home of Solid Minerals,” Governor Sule will note the progress made by his administration based on the promises made to the people when he solicited for their votes during the campaign that brought him to power in 2019.
And the governor is bound to hold his head high for being able to fulfill the promises made during his earlier campaigns. He will be welcomed by the electorate in some rural communities who were cut off from civilisation, in the past due to lack of access roads, but who now can heave a sigh of relief because of his administration’s rural development drive.
Indeed, Governor Sule will be welcomed by the rhythms of the music from communities that benefited from his administration’s dogged commitment to rural development some of which has changed the fortunes of the residents within the four years he has superintended over the state as its Chief Executive.
Unarguably, one area that stands out as far as project execution under the administration of Governor Sule is concerned, is the road construction sector. In this sector, the administration did remarkably well as there are many road networks that crisscrossed the rural areas and urban centres in the state. This no doubt is one of the administration’s selling points. Unlike what obtains before Governor Sule’s assumption of office, most of the roads are no longer rough, but smooth.
Among these rural roads projects are the 24 kilometres Idadu-Agbashi road where residents and all those who commute on this road hold the governor in high regards for coming to wipe their long years of tears. Indeed, across communities on the stretches of this road in Doma local government area of the state, Governor Sule’s praises are being sung almost on a daily basis.
For opting to wipe their tears and end their many decades of suffering through the award of the abandoned but strategic road at the whooping sum of N3.2 billion, they will roll the drums in his honour and keep vigil on the election eve to ensure that he is returned for another term.
They are bound to appreciate Governor Sule who identified and appreciated their needs, and went ahead to address that challenge, altered their compass and linked them to the outside world. During the flag off of the road, Sule invoked tears from their faces, when he returned to fulfill that promise to them. It was an emotional moment because such promises were made during electioneering campaigns by politicians who never returned to the area again until another election year.
It was a circle that had continued many decades until Sule put an end to the miseries and changed their fortune for the better.
“During my campaigns in 2019, I noticed that the Idadu-Agbashi Road was completely bad and I promised the people of this area to construct the road if elected into office and I am happy that the promise I made is being fulfilled today,” the governor had remarked during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in December, 2021. He did not only award the contract but ensured that work progressed unhindered by providing security to ward off any attack on the contractors handling the project by criminal elements.
The project has greatly opened up the benefitting communities to many opportunities that had hitherto eluded them.
Also, residents and those who commute the 17-kilometer Gudi – Moroa road in Akwanga local government area of the state have every reasons to celebrate the administration of Governor Sule for constructing the road which serves hundreds of farmers that currently have ease transporting their farm produce through the road.Without doubt, residents of this area will cast their votes for Sule as a reciprocal gesture for constructing the road.
During the flag off of the road project in May, 2021, the governor spoke of its importance and his administration’s commitment to rural transformation. He noted that the access road network remained a cardinal factor towards enhancing economic growth and prosperity given the enormous agricultural and mineral endowment in the rural areas across the state.
“It would be recalled that during my presentation of the 2021 budget to the state Assembly, I re-echoed our desire to sustain the provision of road infrastructure in the state in line with our policy of bringing government closer to the people as well as open up the state to investors with the view of improving the economic wellbeing of our people.” He has matched his words with action so far with formidable imprints all over the nooks and crannies of the state.
To his credit, Governor Sule took over many ongoing and abandoned projects scattered across the state and supervised their completion.
Key among them include the 3km Kilema -Command Secondary School road and Kwandere Airport road, which he funded and oversaw their completion.
One thing that always surprised every observer of the state of things in Nasarawa, is the degree of prudence that Sule brought to bear on various roads and other projects he embarked upon. He always ensured that all infrastructure projects achieved meaningful impact and served an overriding strategic objective. He equally ensured that such projects were well planned and executed in such a manner that yielded the most far-reaching benefits at the most optimal cost.
With such sterling qualities therefore, uncharacteristic of the average Nigerian politician, the state is gradually matching on the path of development and growth. It is the desire of all development-minded indigenes and residents of the state that the wheel of progress continues unhindered through to the next election year.
